After many months of waiting and creating, we are delighted to present the latest incarnation of 8 magazine. And what better time to remember our origins way back in 1998…

10 years ago, Jon Levy founded a website for promoting photojournalism – foto8.com – a forum for photojournalists to share their stories. We sailed through the dot.com boom, bubble and burst – but then we were never exactly e-commercial – adding features, facilities and, most importantly, users. We developed steadily until now, 10 years on, as we’ve moved up to a much wider platform, from March this year, and, we’re pleased to say, traffic has already doubled. Foto8 has given birth not only to the magazine you hold in your hands today, but also to a lively London gallery called HOST. As well as critically acclaimed exhibitions and topical debates, HOST is proud to announce its first artist representation: Maurice Broomfield, whose work can be seen in an exclusive portfolio on pages 70-79.

The first issue of 8 was published in June 2002 and its earliest stories are just as relevant today: Marie Dorigny’s project on clandestine immigration in Europe, for example, and a prescient piece on the pitfalls of intervention vis-à-vis Afghanistan. The inaugural editor’s letter pays tribute to the “work and dedication of photographers and writers around the globe who continue to pursue stories that they feel are important.” This mantra remains the driving force behind the magazine which has flourished against all odds, just like photojournalism itself (despite the death knell ringing year after year).

For this, our 23rd issue, we’ve had a rethink, we are now publishing bi-annually and bringing new features into the mix. From works in progress to fiction, we now have more pages to print more photographs and writing. This issue’s theme is Tide, interpreted in a variety of ways by our loyal columnists and intrepid photographers.

It’s tough to keep a magazine going that champions stories over ad sales (we do welcome ad sales, by the way!) but we’re still here. Please help us with your continued subscription and support so we can stick around.